Week 1- What is a Digital World?

While researching about what a digital world was I found the most significant thing was remembering that not all children come into a classroom being “digitally fluent” (Howell, 2012). Although it seems that children come straight into Prep knowing how to use an IPhone, IPad and computer this is not true and some children will have had very little experience with technology. These children may be at a disadvantage, beginning school with little or no knowledge of technology however it is a teacher’s responsibility to ensure these children are able to become digitally fluent by introducing them to age appropriate technology within the classroom.

As I was reading the article written by Mark Prensky titled “The 21st– Century Digital learner” I was really interested to read about the panels that he had undertaken with the children to help him understand what the children want to learn about. Prensky (2008) stated that children are “disconnected” and “have little impact” in what they learn. As a teacher, using Prenskys approach could be helpful to gain the children’s interest in technology and ensure that children are engaging in learning that will make then digitally fluent (Howell, 2012)

During my reading and research I discovered that is important that teachers need to be able to not only use technology but also teach children how to use it. As stated by Howell (2012) we are living in a “global information society”. This connected world we live in which basically has “no boundaries for communication” (Howell, 2012) and as a teacher it is our job to ensure that all children are prepared to communicate in this new world (Howell, 2012).